VertiQuiet

ABSTRACT

The invention is an apparatus that selectively retains a chosen number of vertical blind slats. It comprises an elongated two-arm apparatus holding and conforming to common slat designs. Objectives and advantages include: user friendly, inexpensive to manufacture, convenient, comfortable to hold, beautifies blinds, allows for chosen amounts of light let in, and substantially reduces the rattling blind slat noise made when a window or door is open. The description herein provides preferred embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as limiting its scope. For example, variation in the size, length, height, and width of the apparatus as long as it remains easy and convenient to use by an adult; the material used; colors; and textures. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than being limited to the examples given.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

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NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A CD

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to vertical blinds that areconventionally installed in residential, commercial, industrial, andgovernment buildings and, more specifically, to apparatus and method forclipping more than one slats of a vertical blind together.

2. Description of the Related Art

Notable patented prior art relating to methods and inventions forretaining vertical blind window coverings include:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,177, wherein Kratzer teaches a “sun-tie” forgathering groups of vertical blind slats so that a medial portion ofeach slat in a group is juxtaposed in an abutting relationship withother slats of the group. The sun-tie comprises a combination of a fixed“anchor pocket” that can be slid over a selected slat and a clip havinga fixed size into which the rest of the group of slats can be gathered.Kratzer relies on having some of the slats diverge laterally both aboveand below the sun-tie in order to keep the anchor pocket from slidingoff the selected slat under the influence of gravity. This requires allthe slats to be turned parallel to a window. Shortcomings include acomplicated apparatus and all slats must be parallel to a window for theinvention to work.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,374, wherein Mouzakis teaches an apparatus ofseveral fastening arrangements including a combination of a holder and atie for retaining slats of a vertical blind. Shortcomings include acomplicated apparatus.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,553, wherein Jensen discloses a two-partslat-retaining clip having a first portion fixedly attached to a walland a second portion for capturing a group of slats. Shortcomingsinclude the necessity of a wall attachment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,869, wherein Rozon teaches an apparatus of anarticulated arm engaged to the lower ends of blind vanes by a cleatpivotally engaged to each end thereof. Shortcomings include acomplicated apparatus and limited noise reduction.

U.S. Pat. Application No. 20110017409, wherein Houghton teaches a devicethat comprises a base plate that is adapted for fixing to a surfaceadjacent the blind and an integral retaining member which is adjustableto releasably secure a variable number of louvers against the baseplate. Shortcomings include the necessity of a wall attachment and acomplicated device.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,938, wherein Toti teaches a device that holds theedges of vertical blind slats together. Shortcomings include one clip isneeded for every 2 slats and the slats must be in limited positions forthe clips to work.

Great Britain Pat. No. GB20080022203.6, wherein Horwath teaches a clipfor receiving the slats of a vertical blind and a housing space for theblind's pulley cords. The clip needs to be secured to the wallsurrounding the blind. Shortcomings include the need for a wallattachment and the clip does not stop several blind slats from rattling.

Vertiquiet overcomes the abovementioned shortcomings as it is onesimple, easy-to-use piece. No wall attachments are needed. The blindslats can be in any order. When VertiQuiet is in use, the blind slatsstop rattling and present a pleasant appearance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention offers options to retain selectively a first verticalblind slat plus a chosen number of additional slats that comprise avertical blind. The groups of slats can be juxtaposed. This clipcomprises two elongated arms along with a connecting piece on one side.The apparatus is designed to form to the common and majority of designsof blind slats. The use of the apparatus prohibits the gathered slatsfrom being rattled by moving air and making noise while also presentingan appealing visual appearance and allowing chosen amounts of incominglight when the door or window is open.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a full side view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a full front view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a full back view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of three ways in which the invention can be used tohold and quiet blinds.

FIG. 4A shows the way in which gathered blinds look when the blinds arenot drawn together and front-facing,

FIG. 4B shows the way in which gathered blinds look when the blinds aredrawn together and side-facing,

FIG. 4C shows the way in which gathered blinds look when the blinds arenot drawn together and side-facing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method for retaining a plurality of slats of avertical blind (along with the blind's hanging, dangling hardware ifdesired, and does so in a fashion that prevents blind rattling. The clipcan be left attached to one slat of a group of slats even when the slatsin that group are not retained in a juxtaposed arrangement. That is, theblind can be operated in a conventional fashion even with the inventionattached to one of the slats.

Operation of the invention is simple. The user opens and rotates theblinds to a desired position. The user gathers an amount of slats. Theuser opens the clip and slides or places the elongated leg of the clipover the decorated face of the gathered slats and the shorter leg overthe other face. The user may clip the invention along most any point ofthe length of the slats.

Although it is believed that the foregoing recital of features andadvantages may be of use to one who is skilled in the art and who wishesto learn how to practice the invention, it will be recognized that theforegoing recital is not intended to list all of the features andadvantages. Moreover, it may be noted that various embodiments of theinvention may provide various combinations of the hereinbefore recitedfeatures and advantages of the invention, and that less than all of therecited features and advantages may be provided by some embodiments.

Although the present invention has been described with respect toseveral preferred embodiments, many modifications and alterations can bemade without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is intendedthat all such modifications and alterations be considered as within thespirit and scope of the inventions defined in the attached claims.

1. An apparatus for retaining a selected amount of vertical slats of amounted vertical blind, when the vertical blind is open or drawn to anyposition, with the slats thereof rotated to any position, comprising: aholding clip used to hold a gathered, selected group of vertical slatsin overlying relationship to each other and securing the gathered onesof said selected group of vertical slats in said overlying relationshipto each other with VertiQuiet.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein theapparatus can be placed on nearly any vertical location of the blindstats.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a length of one of the legsof the holding device is greater than the other leg.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the shorter leg is shaped to fit well with most allshapes of vertical blind slats.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thelonger leg is shaped to fit well with most all shapes of vertical blindslats.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of end of the two arms isopen and the other end is a flat connection piece.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the connection side is shaped well with most all shapesof vertical blind slats.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein theapparatus has a U shape.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein slightpulling apart pressure of the two arms allows the apparatus to open andbe placed around the desired number of blind slats.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the step of connecting the holding device around thegathered slats so as to prohibit the gathered slats from being rattledby moving air and making noise.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thestep of connecting the holding device around the gathered slats so as tomake the blinds present in an appealing visual appearance.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the holding devicearound the gathered slats so as to block as much or as little lightwhile also minimizing rattling slat noise when the window or door isopen some amount.